Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Michael Brown, from Rockville, Md., arranges convoys for the 398th Combat...... read more read more
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Imagine a crew of five who are responsible for the theater travel requirements for more than 800 people, many of whom reside in up to 10 different remote sites. Many travel on a daily basis to these disparate locations, leaving throughout a typical 24-hour operational period and frequently on a moment's notice. Enter the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion S-3.
Our Battalion S-3 could better be termed as the battalion travel agency. They process flights day and night, track convoys, check the status of flights and arrange backup travel plans – basically any transportation need for all Soldiers. They also ensure travelers arrive at their destination, answer all questions about where people are, where they will be and where they came from.
The process begins when one of our subordinate companies or someone on the battalion staff has a transportation requirement. The request is approved by the individual company commander and then flows across the Battalion Intelligence Officer's desk for a threat assessment. Once the S-2 has analyzed the route or destination threat activity, a printout of the current threat level for the movement destination is created and inserted into the movement paperwork.
The company representative then takes the travel request and threat assessment to the battalion headquarters for approval by the sergeant major, the executive officer and eventually the battalion commander.
Once it has been approved, the transportation paperwork is brought back to the S-3 where the air or ground movement is scheduled. After the trip is booked, they then track, call, arrange and do everything else in their power to make sure the travel takes place.
They do all this on a day-to-day basis around the clock and have made sure everyone gets to their final destinations since arrival in theater last year. Despite weather cancellations, personal requests to have travel arrangements changed by as little as six hours or to just cancel their own flight, they have performed flawlessly.
The S-3 has and will continue to process all travel despite additional responsibilities like tracking training, operations, classes that are held battalion wide, arrange and host meetings and monitor key control for buildings made available for everyone in the battalion. Regardless of the time of day, someone is always waiting to assist Soldiers within the battalion with their travel requirements throughout Iraq and sometimes outside of theater. It's a thankless job but critical for successful support operations.
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.25.2009 03:18 |
| Story ID: | 31569 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 220 |
| Downloads: | 189 |
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